Emma was walking down the hallway when she heard someone snicker. She pressed her ear against the door.
"You'll never do it" she heard Hugh say.
"I will one these days" she heard Jacob snap. "I'm just looking for the right time. It needs to be perfect."
"Hey" Emma said. "What's going on? Everything okay?"
There was silence. The door opened and Jacob, Millard, and Hugh came out. Hugh and Millard left, leaving Emma and Jacob alone.
"What was that about?" Emma asked.
Jacob blushed. "Nothing. Do you want to take a walk with me after dinner?"
Emma smiled, leaned forward, and placed a gentle kiss on her boyfriend's lips.
"I'd love to" she said.
"Hey Emma" Olive said after dinner. "There's something I want to show you."
"Sorry Olive" Emma said. "I'm taking a walk with Jacob."
"I'm sure Jacob wouldn't mind if I showed you something very quickly" Olive said, smiling at Jacob.
Jacob glared at her. "No I wouldn't."
"Great" Olive said. She took Emma's hand. "This will take less than a minute."
Olive dragged Emma up the stairs and into her room. Olive tore open a closet and pulled out a white dress.
"Put this on."
Emma went into the closet to change. She came out a few minutes later. She looked in a mirror. The skirt was down to her ankles and thin straps.
"This looks like a wedding dress" Emma said. Olive giggled.
"Maybe I should take it off" Emma said.
"No!" Olive cried. Emma raised her eyebrows.
"You-uh- your going to be late for your walk" Olive said pushing her out the door.
Jacob was waiting outside. His eyes went wide when he saw Emma.
"Is that dress what Olive wanted to show you?"
She nodded.
They were walking along the beach, holding hands, when Emma stopped.
"Jacob, why has everybody been acting so weird lately? What's going on?"
Jacob let go of her hand. "It's all going to make sense in a minute."
He stood in front of her and held her hands.
"Emma, I love you very much. You are my whole world. You are everything to me. And so" he said, getting down on one knee, "I ask you, Emma Bloom, will you marry me?"
Emma clapped her hands over her mouth, tears in her eyes. "Yes!"
Jacob smiled, slid the ring on her finger, and kissed her.